The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-08
Gambling and Poker Dens,

In his annual message to the Aldelm of
New York on Monday last, Mayor Hewitt
said :-"By the 103d section of the New
York Consolidated act of 1889, it is made
he duty of the Mayor to Communicate to
the Common Council, at least once year.
a general statement OF the finances, govern
ment and improvements of the city"
Would it not be well Tor Wilmington it
such practice existed here?
Tho advantage of the custom can best be
| llustl ated by the pctusing OF the disadvail-
tages that exist through the absence of it.
A great deal of tine evil and the unbroken
perpeuuatiun of the evil that is carried on
from one municipal council to another is
largely due to the TACT that responsibility it is,
under our present system, SO easy Of eva.
, sion.
1t seems 10 us that if It were possible for
the Mayor through such an instrument as
an annual Message TO tell the City Fathers
that certain well known needs required theil
present attention, and the propositions
brought up in that Message being possible
of accomplishment in that term of munich
pal administration, the sgnal advantage
would be gained Of definitely locating The
responsibility upon that City Council, anC
that particular term of their public service
As it is now, urgent city requirements ar
postponed and the citizens are wearied ou
looking for reform. New men come to OF
lice, in their turn, and public matters ar
treated in the same way, members of counci
appearing to give their industrious attention
to little else than the matter of string
pulling in order that they or their friend
keep a tight hold on the Gifices.
By this facile and nsidious avoidance o
more important public duties the needs 0
the city are not given worthy attention
Needed improve. 60 over from one ad
ministratiou to another and the responsible
ty being thus strung out from year to yea
tizens do not know whom to blame.
For instance has the City Council prepal
ed any petition to the Legislature upon tn
subject OF the gambling houses and poke
dens that still iufest the city, in the teeth I
The Mayors attempt to stay the rascal
business?
Mayor Rhoads received most shamefl
set back when be attempted to uproot Ii
evil. Did City Council show any dispos
tion to and the Mayor? Have the member
Of Council made a single step in the dire,
tion Of their public duty to aid iecency an
responsibility in Wilmington
/ Are they even cugnizant of any respons
/. bility whatever in the premises? Are the
e aware that the citizens expect their bod!
/. now that it has been demonstrated in o,
e Magistrate of Wimington's power is ino
!, erative as regards poker playing and gal
y bling here, that it is their duty to fly to Il
:. rescue of decent social existence.
; Were it the custom for the Mayor
/ send an annual Message to Council the
would be provision for the instant considt
n alton and the remedying of the evil-or t
!. citizens would immediately know whom
l. blame.
lie What we naed is the oppo tunity a
ss place for locating responsibility. When I'll
is has been obtained the inclination to eva
u, and postpone will not be so alluring to the
n Of the City Fathers who are already only I
- notorious for their indifference to the trt
T. requirements of the Off ,e they hold.